Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-16
m the brow of the hin nd eastward

from the brow OF the NH AZ east"hfu
OF the causeway."
Upon receipt of this cipher message
General Hof ordered his men to make
for the beach. The skirmish boats
being the heetest shot quickly TO
the front, and in spite OF few
shots fired from Miantonomi Hill
were soon ashore and the men,
hardly waiting for their boats
TO ground, jumped quickly ashore aud
of once deplOyed as skirmishers. The
enemy discovered the move and WAS
fastening across the causeway in eager
ness to gam the crown OF the hill,
which would give them a commanding
position over their fast approaching
foes. In order TO distinguish the two
parties, the attacking force was dressed
in blue clothing, while the enemy wore
white uniforms
After the skirmishers had quickly
landed and advanced, Calling guns
were brought on shore. The pioneers
were Immediately put to work throw
ing up screens of earth and platforms
for the artillery TO rest upon to protect
their crews from the enemys sharp
shooters. The landing place being
thus covered. the main body Of troops
landed and the artillery officers bent
their energies to getting the three-inch
rifles ashore. The pioneers and ma
rines were on the right with two com
panies of the latter thrown out as Skin
mishers, the third company being held
in reserve. The extreme right of the
skirn.ish line rested on stone wall,
the left occupying little hill on the ex-
treme left of the line of battle, which
was concave toward the enemy. The
enemy had opened rapid fire, and 1t
was touch and go as to whether the bri-
gade could get landed and formed be-
fore the enemy's artillery could be in
position with men III sufficient force to
make the landing an impossibility.
General Davis knew at once that the
attacking force had made rapid pro-
gress since passing the coast guard fur
Their up the main island. and that no
time was to be lost in selling all points
commanding the waters by which an
approach was possible. Landing at
Coddington's Point was no longer feast
bic, and the only other place for dis
embarking was along the north end OF
Coasters Harbor island. If General
Davis by a rapid movement could
gain the crest of the hill at the
southern end of this island and
get his guns in position, the land
ing could not be made, and the attack
ing party was then at his mercy. A
rush across the causeway and scram-
bic up the bill was the only possible
chance of getting there in time. The
order was given to advance on the dou-
BILE. quick, and away dashed the whole
force, and the crest of the hill was
gained Just as the first portion OF the
attacking force had landed. Could the
artillery pieces have been got up the
steep hills about five minutes earlier the
story of the days battle would have
been a different one.
All that remained to the defenders
was to make as brave a fight rs pos
sible against the approaching forces,
and when the time came for with
draval, to retreat as best they could,
endeatoring to keep their losses down
to the smaller figure by taking every
advantage of the naturally-strong de-
fence the ground offered. The posi-
ton Of the defenders was admirably
selected. 1t extended across the
island from shore 10 shore along
line well protected natu-
rally as well as nrtilicially by a
mound giving n commanding position
over the assailants, and having line %
stone wall behind which their men
could take shelter, the only indication
Of their presence being the puff OF
smoke from their rifles. The final
attack was made, the forces under
General Davis beaten, hastily retreated,
and General Hoif gained the day, after
capturing the point at the stone wall
which gave him a commanding position
to have shelled Newport.